Camp knife bail dilemma

Railsplitter

Railsplitter

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I have a newfound love for Scout/Camp knives but I really don’t like the bail.

On the other hand, the bail is like the signature feature of 99% of these types of knives. Generally speaking, if you find one without a bail, the bail was removed for whatever reason.

I want to remove it and just deal with the holes left behind but a small part of me thinks that I might be able to get used to it.

How do you folks feel about bails on Scout/Camp knives? Do you leave yours on because you like it or do you remove it because you don’t?

I should clarify that I’m talking about knives that I carry. I would leave the bail attached to any knives that I might buy only for collecting.
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If the bail is attached to the pivot pin, I leave it on. These bails generally aren’t too floppy, so they stay out of the way when closing the main blade.

Bails that are pressed into holes in the bolster, I can see removing. They flop all over the place, and seemingly want to get in the way of the main blade closing. They make me insane.

I find that it helps to attach a small fob to the bail. It gives you something larger to pull out of the way when closing the blade.
 
Buzzbait said:
If the bail is attached to the pivot pin, I leave it on. These bails generally aren’t too floppy, so they stay out of the way when closing the main blade.

Bails that are pressed into holes in the bolster, I can see removing. They flop all over the place, and seemingly want to get in the way of the main blade closing. They make me insane.

I find that it helps to attach a small fob to the bail. It gives you something larger to pull out of the way when closing the blade.
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The bail on my Camillus must in fact be peened to the pivot pin. It stays put wherever I place it. Even the weight of the knife won’t budge it.

That’s a good thing because it doesn’t look like I will be attempting to remove it.

Thanks for your feedback.
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I can't say I've used this Boker a lot, but the way they integrated the bail keeps it out of the way when using it. I can't see a reason to remove. It doesn't even look bad.
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black mamba said:
I don't like them at all, but I leave them on, anyway. I do remove the split rings from my SAKs.
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Why? The split ring cannot get in the way of an opening or closing blade.
Also, If your SAK has the multi purpose "package hook", you remove one of the "package hook's" hidden functions.
Open the package hook. Put a "T" shank jigsaw blade through the split ring, shank in the hooks resting trough, close the hook, so it catches the jigsaw blade at the forward edge of the "T".
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Works great when the standard SAK wood/bone saw is not the right tool ... cutting copper or black iron water and gas pipes, or sheets of brass/copper/bronze/German Silver when making shields or inlays for example.

Removing the split ring also prevents attaching a clasp or carabiner, allowing you to clip your SAK to a belt loop.

(I carry all but my 58 mm on the 03:00/15:00 belt loop or a Vic belt drop next to that belt loop.
My Mini Champ or Signature is worn as a kneck knife (130# saltwater fishing snap swivel for quick removal from the 28" lanyard) or on a Nite-Ize "bigfoot" keyring, knife on one of their small locking "s" hooks.)
 
Railsplitter said:
I have a newfound love for Scout/Camp knives but I really don’t like the bail.

On the other hand, the bail is like the signature feature of 99% of these types of knives. Generally speaking, if you find one without a bail, the bail was removed for whatever reason.

I want to remove it and just deal with the holes left behind but a small part of me thinks that I might be able to get used to it.

How do you folks feel about bails on Scout/Camp knives? Do you leave yours on because you like it or do you remove it because you don’t?

I should clarify that I’m talking about knives that I carry. I would leave the bail attached to any knives that I might buy only for collecting.
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NOOOOOOOO!

I am prejudiced, I admit that, with a slavish concern for tradition.

BUT...

From a lifetime of knife use in the field, I beg of thee, do not remove the bail. Even if you don't use it now, There may be a time in the unforeseeable future that you may feel the need for a lanyard. Under most uses, a lanyard is not needed, and actually can b a dangling PITA. BUT...if you find yourself working around water, or out on a boat, or hiking/camping someplace where loosing your knife can be a serious handicap, then a lanyard is worth its weight in gold. Theres a reason most military issue folding knives like the 'demo' knife, TL-29, have a bail. Theres a reason most marine based people like working watermen, sailors, and fishermen carry a knife with a bill. Or working men using knives like the Mercator K55 or Douk-Douk like a bail. The "dummy cord" has saved many a knife.

For many decades I carried a scout pattern pocket knife. A camillus Boy Scout knife from age 12 to 21. An army issue demo knife in my 20's, followed by a Swiss Army knife I picked up while stationed in Germany that was a much more finely made item than the issue Camillus. Maybe I just got used to a bail. But I know of a couple times I still had the knife because of the lanyard. One time I was on a hike in the Shenandoah National Park. Stopped for a break, and sliced up some cheese and sausage for a snack. Stuck the SAK back down in my pocket had a pipe and got up to go on and something was bumping against my leg. It was my old Wenger SI that has slid back out of my pocket when sitting, and was retained by the lanyard that had the knot at the end stuck under my belt. If that knot hadn't been there I'd have lost my rusty old Wenger SI.

Leave the bail. You may be thankful a few years from now.
 
that reminds me of the bail and chain 15s that came out in 2018. that years rendezvous specials had quite some variations with the bail and chain. i was able to pull the bail out on the micarta clip in hotel room. i eventually filled in the holes with little sterling plugs but ultimately used it as a blade donor for a tc project. i had scored another spear 15 bail and chain on knifeswapper knifeswapper 's page back in the day. that became the sterling cross project. that probably sums up what i think about the bails.
 
In case you ever decide to remove the bail, I have done so with Böker Sportsmesser like posted above.

I took the bail out with pliers, little bit of twisting does it. After that you can carefully file the excess pin down. Use masking tape to protect the bolsters. When you are nearing the bolster, just sand rest of the pin to the level of bolster. Finish the pin and bolster with sand paper and the pin should dissappear to the bolster. Flitz polish gives nice finish if you want shiney. You might need to match the finish on the other side of the knife.
 
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